Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in US have developed a plastic molding device - EarWell, which can reshape prominent or misfolded ears of a newborn, non-invasively.
The device consists of a cradle which fits around the ear, customised retractors that hold the ear in the desired shape, and a shell that fits the ear and holds all the components in place.
As circulating oestrogen left over from the pregnancy gives the infant’s cartilage high flexibility, applying EarWell for six to eight weeks permanently corrects the shape of the ear.
Reportedly, the FDA-approved device is capable of correcting disorders such as prominent ears, Lop ears, Stahl’s Ear, and Helical Rim Deformity.